One of Toronto's largest shopping malls is planning for a major makeover and expansion that will add lots of new retail space in addition to over 1,000 condo units across the site.

Bayview Village Shopping Centre is currently surrounded by a sea of surface parking lots, but owner QuadReal wants to revamp the mall by adding a series of mixed use buildings that would extend its footprint towards Sheppard Avenue East.

As Urban Toronto reports, the plans call for five new buildings designed by Toronto-based architecture firms Hariri Pontarini and DIALOG. Nearly 45,000 square feet of new retail space would be added to the complex, much of which would take shape as an open air retail promenade.

The idea, in essence, is to make good on the idea of the village in the mall's name. With the addition of the condos will come improved pedestrian features as well as what's being called a "town square" at the heart of the new development. 

Early renderings also show a new entrance to Bayview Station that would provide direct access to the retail space, something which the mall currently lacks. 

Given the various expansions that have taken place at Yorkdale over the last decade, it's not surprising to see such an ambitious plan for Bayview Village. More and more malls are turning to mixed use development as a way to remain relevant in the decades ahead.

The city still has to approve this development application, which will likely be a drawn out process.  Intensified development along the Sheppard subway line is, however, in keeping with urban planning goals for the area, so we could certainly see something close to this vision take shape.

It's going to be an epic month in Toronto skies this August with numerous major celestial events taking place. 

Skywatchers in and around Toronto usually have a lot to look forward to at this time of year thanks to the annual Perseid meteor shower, but there's plenty more on tap over the next 30 days.

The Sturgeon Moon might have a cool name, but it's really just how the August full moon is referred to in North America. It rises on the night of August 7, so get outside on the final day of the long weekend and snap an awesome photo of the moon. 

Next up is the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks on the nights of August 11 to 12 and August 12 to 13. NASA meteor expert Tim Cooke tells Space.com that the best time to see this celestial event will probably be in the pre-dawn hours of August 12.

PASS IT ON: Perseid meteor shower peaks on the nights of August 11th & 12th. Around 60 meteors possible per hour! #MeteorShower#Spacepic.twitter.com/qka8hKEpYZ

— Mark Tarello (@mark_tarello) July 29, 2017

Since the moon will be three quarters full, the show might not be as spectacular as usual, but you should still be able to see meteors if you get out of the city and head somewhere without too much light pollution.

The Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve is always a good option, though there are plenty of other awesome spots to drive to from Toronto. 

While seeing meteors dash across the sky is always exciting, most skywatchers are eagerly awaiting the Great American Eclipse. It's the first total solar eclipse that'll be visible across the United States since 1979. 

20 days now! Get eclipse glasses NOW at https://t.co/U14ANVVUTKpic.twitter.com/UQwjKcqwwL

— GreatAmericanEclipse (@AmericanEclipse) August 1, 2017

In Toronto, we'll be able to see the moon cover about 70 percent  of the sun. Weather permitting, it should still look pretty cool (and eerie) here.

The partial eclipse will be visible in Toronto right after 1 p.m. It'll reach its maximum point at 2:32 p.m. The moon will conclude its pass of the sun, from our vantage point, at 3:49 p.m.

If you want to see the total eclipse, consider taking a road trip south of the border. 

It might have been a rainy July in Toronto, but you wouldn't know it from the picturesque images shot by local photographers this month. Here we see a city defined by early morning fog, blazing red sunsets, and the arrival of a not-so-inconspicuous rubber duck.

Take a look at this gallery of some of the best Toronto photos from the past month.

If you're strapped for cash but looking for a tropical getaway this summer, this beach two hours southwest of Toronto is a must-visit destination.

From the warm waters of Lake Erie to the real palm trees that sway on the shoreline, Port Dover's beach is a bit of paradise in Southern Ontario.

A post shared by Emily Overton (@emily.overton) on Jul 7, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

Plenty of people do a double-take when they see the row of palm trees along this stretch of waterfront, but they are very real. This unique feature of the beach comes courtesy of Peter Knechtel, owner of the Beach House restaurant. 

For the last decade or so Knechtel has planted palm trees here starting in late May. They tend to stay up until early October before they're taken back to the greenhouse for the coldest portion of the year. For five months of the year, Southern Ontario has a pseudo tropical destination. 

A post shared by Ontario's Southwest (@ontsouthwest) on Apr 6, 2017 at 5:51pm PDT

Believe it or not, the trees tend to do really well planted on Lake Erie's shores. There's only a handful of them at the beach, but they manage to completely transform the vibe such that you'll be humming Jimmy Buffet after laying out your towel.

A post shared by Farah (@far__out) on Aug 1, 2017 at 5:06pm PDT

Fortunately, the beach at Port Dover is pretty great beyond the addition of Florida palm trees, so it's definitely a spot to have on your getaway radar. The fine-grained sand is easy on the feet, and come August, water temperatures are luxuriously warm.

Take Highway 6 south from Hamilton to get to Southern Ontario's little tropical escape. Weekends get busy, so make sure to arrive early.

The Adelaide Eats Market has been extended until mid-August, so take advantage of the sunshine with an outdoor lunch before it gets cloudy later today. Come nightfall, there's a variety of film screenings to check out around the city. 

Ingrid Goes West, starring Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen, is hitting theatres on August 18. Want to see the flick before anyone else? We've teamed up with Mongrel Media to give readers a chance to win a pair of passes to an advance screening.

Check out all the contest details here.

Mill Street Brewery is best known for its beer, including popular brews like its Organic and Tankhouse Ale. However, now the Toronto-based brewery's dipping into the hard stuff.

Mill Street is now making gin, which is available at its Distillery District beer hall - clearly it's taken a cue from its surroundings.

Mill Street's distiller Martha Lowry developed the small batch gin, which is made with Citra hops. These are usually found in IPAs. Apparently they give the clear spirit a "fresh, citrus flavour and floral undertone."

You can taste this new product neat or in gin and tonics at the beer hall, or grab a 750 millilitre bottle for $49.95. 

If you forget to buy booze before Simcoe Day, don't fret because you can just mosey on over to the LCBO this holiday Monday.

That's because 460 LCBO stores will remain open across the province, including most locations in Toronto. A representative from the LCBO confirms that only six stores in the city will be closed.

These include locations that usually shut down on weekends, such the ones in First Canadian Place and Royal Bank Plaza. 

Since Simcoe Day is not a statutory holiday according to the Retail Business Holidays Act, liquor stores can stay open. 

In most cases, your local LCBO should be open on Monday, but you can confirm by checking the store locator online. The six outposts that'll be closed are at:

• First Canadian Place
• Royal Bank Plaza
• Hudson Bay Centre
• Eglinton and Avenue Road
• East York Town Centre
• Centennial Plaza 

The Beer Store will follow suit by keeping many of its locations across the province open on Simcoe Day. But, don't forget, there's also plenty of places to get craft beer on holiday Mondays in Toronto.

Toronto coffee drinkers probably weren't too pleased to wake up to a price hike on their daily double double this morning.

That's because Tim Hortons raised its prices today, citing "rising operational costs" as the reason for charging a reported 10 cents more per cup of coffee and many other items.

U Think canadians don't get mad?There's a price increase @TimHortons today.Damn country is about to riot Nobody is saying sorry for anything

— The Book Of Amanda (@MsBlueLipstick) August 2, 2017

The last time Tims upped prices was back in 2014, but nothing caused a stir quite like the time the coffee chain changed its cup sizes.

Boiled bean water (often burnt) at Tim Hortons has went up in price oh no! @TimHortons

— Ryan Oliveira (@Ryan__Oliveira) August 2, 2017

Along with increasing prices, Restaurant Brands International, the company that owns Tim Hortons, announced this morning that it plans to bring the coffee shop to Spain. It also revealed it had lower profits compared to last year. 

@TimHortons medium coffee price is up to $1.77!? Why!? There is no pennies anymore! Why not $1.75? Or $1.80? The price hike also sucks btw

— Brian Roberts (@briphoto) August 2, 2017

Tims has also finally started to roll out its mobile order and pay app.  

Toronto businesses that closed in July range from super new (six months old) to beloved, longstanding faves (22 years). Some closures were a shock to loyal regulars while others may not be missed at all.

Here are the most notable Toronto businesses that closed in July.

Mexico Lindo (Danforth)

This well-liked, family-run Mexican joint on the Danforth served up huge portions of enchiladas, burritos, tacos and more. Sadly, it closed without warning and a large "For Lease" sign went up.

Mezzrow's

A classic Parkdale dive beloved by its regulars, it suffered the typical story of its rent skyrocketing unexpectedly and was forced to close after 22 years in business.

Natrel Milk Bar

It replaced an infamous Starbucks on West Queen West last year, but this branded cafe, which wasn't a pop-up, didn't last very long itself. 

Odd Espresso Bar

Speaking of cafes that didn't last long, this spot at College & Dufferin barely made it past six months before having to post a "Sorry, we are now closed for good" sign on its window.

Room 2046

Named after the 2014 Wong Kar-wai film, this stylish concept shop and cafe in Summerhill decided to close its physical space after five years in business to focus solely on its online store and creative studio.

Royal Meats BBQ (CityPlace)

Balkan-style meat was a specialty at this Eastern European grill located in the heart of CityPlace. It lasted a little over a year, although its original location in Etobicoke is still open.

Saturday Dinette

Clashes with landlords were the cause for closing this popular place at Gerrard & Logan. No worries though, because its affiliated lunch counter and bar, Kid Chocolate, should be opening nearby soon.

Studio Bar

Yet again, problems with the landlord and a significant spike in rent were the  reasons behind the shutdown of this Dundas West music venue. Its owners are planning to open a new place elsewhere in the west end soon.

Ratio

Another DIY music venue and art space bowed out last month, after three years of serving the experimental community and drawing in those who wanted to experience something a little different. We'll miss this quirky little space by College & Spadina. RIP, Music City.

If you're looking to cycle around the city, but don't own a bike, it'll soon be easier to get around Toronto on two wheels, considering Bike Share Toronto about to expand in major way.

Bike Share Toronto will get 70 new stations and 700 new bikes this month. This will bring bikes to more parts of the city, especially to areas outside the downtown core.

The green dots represent the new stations. 

According to a news release, the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto are both giving $1.25 million towards 50 new stations. The city's putting forward an addition $1.5 million for the additional 20 stations.

All of the new bikes should be road-ready sometime this month. New stations will start launching on August 8, and the expansion is expected to be complete by the end of the month.

The best hummus in Toronto will fill you up with creamy and delicious chick pea goodness. The stuff you can get in local restaurants is far better than anything you can grab in a tub from the grocery store, so go forth and dip. 

Here is the best hummus in Toronto.

Toronto's housing market might be cooling down, but the local condo market looks like it just keeps getting hotter.

According to a new report from condo market research firm Urbanation, 12,138 new condos were sold between April and June 2017, marking a 62 percent increase since this time last year.  And it's not just second quarter results that show off this strong trend.

"The 21,968 units sold during the first six months of 2017 surpassed 12-month levels averaged over the past 10 years (19,997 units)," reads the report. Prices per square are also up 10 percent since last year. Among the new units on the market, the average price per square foot was $757. 

Explosive first half of GTA new condo market - Our Q2-2017 report is out! https://t.co/BDg4DyrBby

— Urbanation (@Urbanation) August 1, 2017

Pre-construction units also sold well, considering 94 percent of the new 110,772 units across all stages of development were snatched up, according to Urbanation. 

Re-sale units, however, took a dip with a four percent decline in sales. Prices also saw a moderate drop.

"The calming of resale prices in recent months and lower potential yields on rental investments due to high prices in new projects should lead to less frenzied demand in the second half of the year," says Shaun Hildebrand, Urbanation’s senior vice president in the report. 

Yet, the report indicates that inventory remains low and units aren't sitting on the market for very long.

Not all studio apartments are created equally. In Toronto, you'll find plenty of shoe boxes under this description, many of which are only really suitable for people who hardly spend any time at home.

There are, however, some decent ones out there with enough square footage to make the open concept layout desirable over similarly priced one-bedroom units with small rooms and generally tight spaces.

This unit at 42 Dundonald St. in the Village is one such apartment. It certainly isn't cheap at $1,600 a month, but with 600 square feet of space and two separate living areas, someone with a bit of design savvy could turn it into a very nice place to live.

I quite like the new kitchen, which gives the space some polish. Meanwhile, the mid-apartment columns serve as an obvious way to divide the sleeping area from the living/entertaining side of the apartment. As a bonus, there's a deck, which is shared with one other unit.

It'd be great if this types of apartment could go for $1,200 in Toronto, but rental prices remain vicious right now.

Specs

• Address: 42 Dundonald St.
• Apartment type: Upper studio
• Rent: $1,600
• Utilities Included? Hydro extra
• Bedrooms: 0
• Bathrooms: 1
• Parking: Street
• Laundry? On site
• Outdoor space? Shared deck with BBQ

Good For

A single person who would rather live in a renovated low rise than rent a condo in a tall tower. The price point is pretty similar here.

Move On If

Obviously the major factor for this apartment is the lack of a separate bedroom. If you want the privacy of a sectioned off bedroom, this isn't the place for you.

Lavender farms near Toronto will transport you to a purple-hued paradise that also smells amazing. Many of these beautiful fields are located a quick drive away from the city. They seem more popular than ever this summer, largely thanks to Instagram. Just call to make sure the fields haven't been harvested before you visit. 

Here are my picks for lavender farms to visit near Toronto.

Terre Bleu

One of the biggest lavender farms in Canada is also one of the most popular ones near Toronto. This place is Instagram ready with a giant yellow door in the middle of its field and it also serves up lavender ice cream. Find it in near Milton. 

Weir's Lane Lavender Farm & Apiary

After grabbing brunch in Dundas, head to this nearby lavender farm and apiary owned by a former Torontonian. It has two small lavender fields and it's also super close to Tews Falls, Websters Falls and Dundas Peak, so be sure to go exploring if you're in the area. 

Bonnieheath Estate

Head to this lavender farm in Waterford and find both English and French lavender growing on site. This place is also a winery and a cidery, so sip on something delicious during your visit.

Prince Edward County Lavender

Yes, Prince Edward County can get even prettier. There's plenty to do in this area east of Toronto, but along your wine and food tour, take time to spot at this farm and smell the flowers. There's also a bed and breakfast on site. 

Steed & Co.

This is a 45-acre horse farm in Elgin County that also grows lavender. Even when its lavender is harvested, you can still see purple blooms growing in the on-site garden and of course, there's a shop too.

If you forget to put on sunscreen while lounging around outside this summer, don't fret - at least if you're hanging around by the water.

That's because the city of Toronto is partnering with the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund and the Douglas Wright Foundation to bring six free sunscreen dispensers to five different parks by lake.

The parks with free sunscreen are Kew Gardens Park, Sherbourne Common (south), Harbour Square Park, HTO Park (east) and Little Norway Park.

The dispensers will be stocked with SPF 30 sunscreen should you need to apply or reapply while on the go. 

If this pilot project goes well, it could be expanded to more parks in the future.

Drake has a big weekend ahead of him in Toronto. Along with hosting OVO Fest at the Budweiser Stage on Monday night, he's also debuting his latest OVO Store.

This one is located inside the Yorkdale Shopping Centre and it's slated to open on Saturday, August 5 at 9:30 a.m.

The 1,600 square-foot space was apparently designed to deliver an "elevated OVO retail experience," with luxury apparel as well as capsule collections when available.

Drake promoted his fourth OVO Store with a video that shows him performing "Gyalchester" inside the shopping centre, complete with the OVO crew and a Cadillac Escalade driving indoors.

While Drake hasn't confirmed anything yet, he is in town this weekend, so who knows, he might even make an appearance on Saturday. But if you don't want to brace for the inevitable crowds, you can always visit the first ever OVO Store on Dundas Street West. 

Toronto's waterfront might still need work to live up to the potential that most of us believe it has, but a look back in time reveals just what a mess the area was back in the 1970s when its period as an industrial hub came to a close.

What's so remarkable is that the general shape of the harbour has remained intact all these years, but steady efforts over the four decades have reclaimed the land for residential and recreational use.

While opinions are mixed about the presence of condos along the lakeside, these images serve as a reminder that development along the water served as a catalyst for much of the improvement we've witnessed since it was one giant brown field. 

Let's not overstate the importance of the condo, though. The federally funded Harbourfront project was also a key element in our waterfront's revitalization. Throughout the decade, industrial sites were expropriated to give way to art galleries, recreational space, and performance venues.

Behold, the post-industrial Toronto waterfront of the 1970s. 

View of the central harbour and burgeoning skyline in 1970. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking west across an empty Queens Quay in the early 1970s. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The Queens Quay Terminal and harbourfront pre-revitalization in 1974. Photo via Harbourfront Centre.

The Queens Quay Terminal in its last days as an industrial site in 1974. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking towards the Eastern Gap and the young-looking Leslie Street Spit in 1974. Photo by Tom.

The Toronto Star Building and a rising Harbour Castle Hotel in 1976. Photo by Robert Taylor.

Looking west across Queens Quay towards the Maple Leaf Mills at Spadina Quay. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Ship delivery at Maple Leaf Mills in the mid 1970s. Photo by Dan.

Looking east across the Ontario Place grounds in the mid 1970s. This is roughly where the new Trillium Park is now located. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

HMS Haida docked near Ontario Place in the 1970s. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Harbour area south of Tip Top Tailors Building near Bathurst and Queens Quay. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The CN Tower rises over the sprawling Railway Lands in 1974. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

For a bit more perspective, this is how disconnected Toronto was from its waterfront in the 1970s. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The roadway to the right in this photo from 1976 leads to what is now Trillium Park. This exact view doesn't actually look wildly different today, save for the development of the skyline. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The eastern end of Queens Quay approaching Parliament St. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Back in the 1970s, there was no fancy Humber Bay Arch Bridge. These were the options for cyclists crossing the river. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

A young biker rider checks out the massive haul of the Meaford cargo ship. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking southeast across the Port Lands in the late 1970s. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The SummerWorks Festival starts today in Toronto, giving us a chance to catch some thrilling new theatre, including these can't-miss shows. It's also the beginning of Caribana and the International South Asian Film Festival.

Way fewer homes changed hands last month since one year ago when the Toronto real estate market seemed to be on the up and up.

According to the Toronto Real Estate Board's latest report, home sales dropped 40.4 percent in July 2017 compared to July 2016. TREB notes that sales of detached houses fell the most - 47.4 percent, reports the Globe and Mail.

When looking at year-over-year changes, prices were up. The average price of a house (including detached, semi-detached, townhouses and condos) in the GTA was $746,218 last month, up five percent since July 2016. Month-to-month, however, prices declined since June.

“July sales had more to do w/ psychology. Would-be home buyers waiting to see mrkt conditions evolve"@TREBPresidenthttps://t.co/BXgR3Xgw6n

— TREB (@TREBhome) August 3, 2017

"A recent release from the Ontario government confirmed TREB’s own research which found that foreign buyers represented a small proportion of overall home buying activity in the GTA," said TREB president Tim Syrianos in a news release.

"Clearly, the year-over-year decline we experienced in July had more to do with psychology, with would-be home buyers on the sidelines waiting to see how market conditions evolve."